-Kevin
1995 Ranger
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1995 Ranger
I have a 88 Ford Ranger 2.9 v6 auto with 80000 miles. I went through one tranny at 40000, ever since it has run great, handing it down to my little sister. I am looking at a 95 Ranger xlt extended cab,3.0 v6 auto trans with 120000 highway miles on it.
Sitting for 8 months because got a company truck. Execelent condition with all service records, fuel and water pump replaced. Check engine light is on and off and has been in twice to mechanic and can not find a problem. Has alot of extras all power, new paint, (rear end accident), air, new wheels and rims, etc...Price $6000...What do you guys think. ?
Great web site I sure have learned alot about my 88 and about the 95.
Should I worry more about the check engine light. He said I can take it to my mechanic and I think I will. How are the trans in this year???
Thanks, Travis
Sitting for 8 months because got a company truck. Execelent condition with all service records, fuel and water pump replaced. Check engine light is on and off and has been in twice to mechanic and can not find a problem. Has alot of extras all power, new paint, (rear end accident), air, new wheels and rims, etc...Price $6000...What do you guys think. ?
Great web site I sure have learned alot about my 88 and about the 95.
Should I worry more about the check engine light. He said I can take it to my mechanic and I think I will. How are the trans in this year???
Thanks, Travis
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1995 Ranger
Wow, that's a lot of money for that truck. I paid $7,000 for my 1998 2wd Reg cab 4cyl man XLT with 28k miles in MINT condition. 120,000 miles is A LOT of miles. I'm POSITIVE you could do better. Plus it's been hit, so you don't know if the truck is driving sideways or if there was a half-*** paint job performed. The check engine light does throw up a red flag. Your ECU knows what it's talking about, so be careful with it. I would definately reconsider. Because even with perfect maintence and records to show it, even the best built Fords won't last forever. And it's no secret that Ford is a low quality vehicle compared to Honda or Toyota. If you were looking into a Tundra or Tacoma with that mileage, it might be worth it because of their reputation. I suggest paying $6,000 for something in the 1998 neighborhood with 40k-50k miles. The Rangers are a cookie cutter truck. There are thousands for sale as we speak, so keep your eyes open and you will be amazed at how much Ranger you can buy for a little $$$. -Kevin
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1995 Ranger
Thanks Kevin for your imput. I appreciate your quick answer. I have been looking for quite a long time and have not found anything that seemed this good. Most of the Rangers are single cab and 5speed. I know this has alot of miles and it does concern me.The accident was minor, I am friends with the owners of the repair shop that did the work and the custom paint job. It blue books for $7100 even with that many miles. The Rangers I have looked at the dealers are more than that. It sounds like to me you got a really good deal. It is at my mechanics now and we will see what he says. I probably will look more for one with lower miles. I also had planned to offer him less.
Thanks again. Travis
Are you in California? I have found that they seem to be priced more here than out of state.
Thanks again. Travis
Are you in California? I have found that they seem to be priced more here than out of state.
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1995 Ranger
I know what you mean Travis. I always wanted to buy the first vehicle I saw because I figured that was the best I could do. I've made some big mistakes doing that. You gotta think too, there isn't just 120,000 miles on the engine. There's the axles, transmission, brake lines, starter, ball joints, and a mess of other things that wear out. It seems nice when you first get it because everything works, but once things wear out or break that prevent you from driving the vehicle, it hits you. I don't mean to burst your bubble, I'm just trying to let you know what might happen. It happened to me and it sucked. I dumped A LOT of money into my car, because at the time I didn't really care. I just wanted a car and I ended up paying for it in the long run. Good luck with your decision. -Kevin
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From: USA
1995 Ranger
Hey Travis, Kevin is right. You can do much better price wise I think. I bought my '96 Ranger, 2.3L in '99 with only 29,000 miles on it. Today I've got almost 70,000 miles on it and still runs like new. At the time my truck blue booked at about $12,000 and using the dealers tricks against them, I got it for $10,000. Probably could have gone lower but was already pushing their buttons. I don't know about CA, but I do know that here in WA ya can get a '02 Ranger, 2.3L, bare bones for about $9,000, or even less if you got cash. Hope this helps some and I wish you luck with your vehicle search. 
Have a great day.
James
Have a great day.James
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Hi guys, thanks again for your imput. In California a new '02 bare bones Ranger is about $16,000+. All the smog grap really sucks, and you have to pay for it. You can't even go buy one out of state and register it here unless you bring it up to California laws. I have been all over her and that is what the going price is and there is little wheelin and dealin. The gas company and electric company and water companies all use them for their fleet trucks and so you don't have alot of room to deal. I am still looking... you guys are depressing me telling me how cheep they are out of state. Thanks again, Travis
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1995 Ranger
Wow. 16k for a stripped Ranger? That is crazy. I wanted to leave Ohio and go to CA, but now I'm not too sure.
I'm not sure what to think about those prices. It's crazy how you have to pay almost twice as much in CA for the same truck I would buy here. Keep looking. You'll find something you like... -Kevin
I'm not sure what to think about those prices. It's crazy how you have to pay almost twice as much in CA for the same truck I would buy here. Keep looking. You'll find something you like... -Kevin
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1995 Ranger
Hey Travis, sorry if we're depressing you but most people will agree that 16k for bare bones is rediculous. But here is an idea that maybe you'll wanna consider. See...all these trucks should be emissions legal in all 50 states so I don't really understand how it could be so hard to pass the California emission tests. And if you went with the new 2.3L with twin cam (think late '01 and new '02 models only) should be even more fuel efficient and emission safe. So here is the good idea, talk to the dealers around Spokane or Kelloge Washington or Boise Idaho. I hear they are dirt cheap cause they profit in volume sales so very very low mark ups. And shouldn't cost much to transfer into California. Another thing to think about...most companies (bigger ones anyways) lease their vehicles for like 2-3 years so if you don't mind having a 2 or 3 year old truck with about 50k miles on it, I'd say look into buying one of their fleet trucks when the lease is up. Normally pretty cheap. And now that I'm thinking about it, also can look into getting a "demo" truck. Basically last years model that the dealer showed off and stuff. Normally pretty cheap too. Hope this helps you out some and goodluck figuring out something Travis.
James
James
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1995 Ranger
Hi, Its funny you mentioned the fleet trucks I had checked into them and they don't turn them in until they get 150000 miles on them and sometimes more. I went to a local ford dealer and priced a used 99 supercab, xlt, 3.0 v6, auto, air, power, premium wheels, bed liner with 59000 miles and they wanted $17000
I got them down to $15900. A new '02 with all that was $19000.
OUCH! The smog laws are different in California much stricter than the other states and they are really strick about out of state purchases. My Credit Union will not even look at any financing if purchased out of state. Its totally wierd. Thanks again for your imput....Hey California is the only place to live its great here but the cars are expensive and we really put on the miles...
Thanks Travis
I got them down to $15900. A new '02 with all that was $19000.
OUCH! The smog laws are different in California much stricter than the other states and they are really strick about out of state purchases. My Credit Union will not even look at any financing if purchased out of state. Its totally wierd. Thanks again for your imput....Hey California is the only place to live its great here but the cars are expensive and we really put on the miles...
Thanks Travis
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Hi guys I know you are going to think I'm crazy but I bought the truck. He came down in price. I had everything checked out by several mechanics and I am prepared to deal with whatever I have to put into it. It is a sound truck, been taken care of and serviced. I did the ebay but nothing close to this. It is hard to find a super cab, auto, seems like most of them were 4x and driven hard. Thanks for your imput I know you think I'm nuts but we all a little crazy in California. I just graduated from the fire academy and hope to get on soon...then I will be able to afford the truck I really want. This will get me to work and back and my surfboard looks good in the back and the chicks think it looks cool. Reason enough. Kidding aside I appreciate your imput and I hope I won' have to be back on this website for future problems but if I am you can say I told you so.
Thanks , Travis
Thanks , Travis
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1995 Ranger
Hey Travis,
Congratulations on the purchase. Well I can pretty much assure you that you're not going to hear an "I told you so" cause most of us have been where you are and though others may not think we're making the best choice, we ourselves do think so. So I can at least say no criticism here. Hopefully see you back here soon. No, not meaning your truck broke down or anything, meaning hopefully back sharing your experiences and helping out others. Think if I throw a surf board in the back, chicks will dig me and my purple '96 Ranger? 
Have fun with your truck and best of luck with your new purchase. Have a great day.
James
Congratulations on the purchase.
Well I can pretty much assure you that you're not going to hear an "I told you so" cause most of us have been where you are and though others may not think we're making the best choice, we ourselves do think so. So I can at least say no criticism here. Hopefully see you back here soon. No, not meaning your truck broke down or anything, meaning hopefully back sharing your experiences and helping out others. Think if I throw a surf board in the back, chicks will dig me and my purple '96 Ranger? Have fun with your truck and best of luck with your new purchase. Have a great day.James